Self-aligned contacts for nanosheet field effect transistor devices

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, a method of forming a semiconductor device, can comprise forming a first transistor structure and a second transistor structure separated by a trench. The first and the second transistor structures can comprise a plurality of stacked nanosheets forming a channel structure, and a source portion and a drain portion horizontally separated by the channel structure. A first and a second spacer can beformed in the trench at sidewalls of the transistor structures, both protruding above a top surface of the transistor structures. The method can comprise applying a first mask layer including an opening exposing the first spacer at a first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure and covering the second spacer, partially etching the exposed first spacer through the opening, exposing at least parts of a sidewall of the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure, and removing the mask layer. The method can further comprise depositing a contact material over the transistor structures and the first and second spacer, filling the trench and contacting the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure, and etching back the contact material layer below a top surface of the second spacer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims foreign priority to European Patent Application No. EP 19215873.1, filed Dec. 13, 2019, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The disclosed technology generally relates to the field of forming semiconductor devices such as field-effect transistor (FET) devices.

Description of the Related Technology

In striving to provide more power- and area-efficient circuit designs, new transistor devices are being developed.

Horizontal channel field effect transistor (FET) devices include the fin field-effect transistor (finFET), which can have a gate straddling a channel portion of a fin-shaped semiconductor structure, and the horizontal nanowire- or nanosheet-FET (horizontal NWFET or NSFET), which can have a gate at least partly enclosing a channel portion of a horizontally oriented nanowire- or nanosheet-shaped semiconductor structure.

Efficient process flows dedicated to fabrication of horizontal channel FET devices have been developed. However, the objective of developing more area efficient FET devices using more convenient fabrication methods still remains.

SUMMARY OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE ASPECTS

An objective of the disclosed technology is therefore to provide an improved method of forming FET devices on a common substrate.

According to an aspect of the disclosed technology, there is provided a method of forming a semiconductor device comprising a first field effect transistor (FET) device and a second FET device. The method can comprise forming, on a semiconductor substrate, a first transistor structure and a second transistor structure separated by a first trench. Each of the first and the second transistor structures can comprise a plurality of stacked nanosheets forming a channel structure, and a source portion and a drain portion horizontally separated by the channel structure. A first spacer can be formed in the first trench at a sidewall of the first transistor structure, and a second spacer can be formed in the first trench at a sidewall of the second transistor structure. The first and second spacer can both protrude above a top surface of the transistor structures. The method can also comprise applying a first mask layer including an opening exposing the first spacer at a first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure and covering the second spacer; at least partially etching the exposed first spacer through the opening, exposing at least parts of a sidewall of the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure; removing the mask layer; depositing a contact material over the transistor structures and the first and second spacers, thereby filling the first trench and contacting the first source/drain portion of the first semiconductor structure; and etching back the contact material layer below a top surface of the second spacer.

Throughout this disclosure, transistor structure can refer to a semiconductor structure from which a transistor (or FET device) may be formed. Each of the transistor structures and thus, in the end, the final FET devices can comprise a plurality of horizontally stacked nanosheets.

Each of the transistor structures may form, or be arranged to form, a FET device. A channel FET device can hereby refer to a device comprising a semiconductor structure comprising a first and a second source/drain portion and a channel portion located intermediate and extending between the first and second source/drain portions, and further comprising a gate structure extending along the channel portion. In a horizontal channel FET device, the first and second source/drain portions and the channel portion may intersect a common horizontal plane. The channel portion can be adapted to (in use of the device) conduct a flow of charge carriers between the source/drain.

As used herein, vertical may refer to a direction or orientation (e.g., of a surface, a dimension or other feature) parallel to a normal to the substrate (e.g., a main plane of extension or main/upper surface thereof). Horizontal meanwhile may refer to a direction or orientation parallel to the substrate (e.g., a main plane of extension or main surface thereof), or equivalently transverse to the vertical direction. Meanwhile, terms such as “above”, “upper”, “top”, “below”, “lower”, or “bottom” can refer to relative positions as viewed along the vertical direction and do not imply an absolute orientation of the substrate or device.

Through the etch-back of the contact material layer below the top surface of the second spacer, the contact material layer can be divided into two contacts separated by the second spacer. One of the contacts can contact the first source/drain region of the first transistor structure. In some implementations, as the contact material is formed across the source/drain portion of the first transistor structure and in the first trench, the contact material may wrap at least partly around at least two surfaces of the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure. In some instances, the method may comprise depositing the contact material to form a wrap-around contact. A wrap-around contact may improve the control of the contact on the source/drain portion.

As the contact material is etched back below the top surface of the second spacer, the size and position of the contacts may be defined by the second spacer in some implementations. The contacts may in some instances be formed self-aligned with the first trench and the first source/drain portion.

In some instances, the distance between adjacent contacts can be limited by the width of the second spacer. For example, the separation of the contacts may be controlled by the width of the second spacer.

Using the above-defined methods, the contacts may be formed with higher accuracy. The contacts may also be formed with a smaller pitch (distance) between them. The above-defined methods may thus reduce the size of the resulting FET devices.

According to some embodiments, the first FET device and the second FET device may be of the same dopant type.

For example, both the first FET device and the second FET device may be p-type FET devices. Alternatively, both the first FET device and the second FET device may be n-type FET devices.

It will be appreciated that the first FET device and the second FET device may also be of the opposite dopant type.

According to some embodiments, the method may further comprise depositing the contact material in a continuous line extending in a direction from the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure towards a first source/drain portion of the second transistor structure, across the spacers and the first trench.

The contact material may in some instances, be deposited such that a continuous line is formed in the horizontal plane across from the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure towards a first source/drain portion of the second transistor structure.

Applying the contact material in a continuous line across (a source/drain region of) both transistor structures and then etching back the contact material below a top surface of the second spacer to divide the contact material line into individual contacts may facilitate the formation of the contacts. Forming a continuous line of contact material and dividing it into individual contacts may for example be more convenient than applying the material as discrete contacts. In some such methods, smaller contacts may be formed with a higher accuracy.

According to some embodiments, forming the first and second transistor structured on the substrate may further comprise, e.g., prior to the formation of the first spacer and the second spacer, etching the substrate through the trench, thereby forming a substrate trench. The method may further comprise forming a buried power rail (BPR) in the substrate trench. Prior to depositing the contact material, the method may further comprise exposing the BPR in the bottom of the trench.

The BPR may be embedded in, or covered with, a dielectric or isolating material.

In some embodiments in which a BPR is formed in the substrate and exposed prior to the deposition of the contact material, the contact may be a contact between the BPR and the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure.

According to some embodiments, the method may further comprise forming a third transistor structure on the substrate. The third transistor may be separated from the first transistor structure by a second trench. The third transistor structure may comprise a plurality of stacked nanosheets forming a channel structure. The third transistor structure may further comprise a source portion and a drain portion separated horizontally by the channel structure.

Furthermore, a third spacer may be formed in the second trench at a sidewall of the third transistor structure. A fourth spacer may be formed in the second trench at a sidewall of the first transistor structure. The third and fourth spacers may both protrude above top surface of the transistor structures.

The method may further comprise etching back the contact material layer below a top surface of the fourth spacer.

The third transistor structure may form a third FET device. In accordance with some embodiments, the resulting FET devices can be nanosheet FET devices. Some such FET devices may comprise a wrap-around gate, which wraps around the channel structure of the FET device. A wrap-around gate may provide an improved control of the horizontally oriented flow of charge carriers through the channel structure between the source and drain portions of the FET device.

According to some embodiments, the method may further comprise forming a third transistor structure on the semiconductor substrate. The third transistor structure may be separated from the first transistor structure by a second trench having a smaller width than the first trench. The third transistor structure may comprise a plurality of stacked nanosheets which may form a channel structure. The third transistor structure may further comprise a source portion and a drain portion which may be horizontally separated by the channel structure.

The method may further comprise depositing a dielectric material in the second trench. The dielectric material may protrude above a top surface of the transistor structures. The method may further comprise etching back the contact material layer below a top surface of the dielectric material.

The dielectric material may form a dielectric wall between the first and the third transistor structure. The first and the third transistor structure may together form a forksheet transistor structure. In some such structures, two neighboring FET devices can be separated by a dielectric wall. A dielectric wall between two FET devices may allow for electrical separation/isolation between the FET devices with a shorter distance/pitch between the FET devices. In some implementations, the resulting FET devices may be more closely arranged on the substrate.

According to some embodiments, a third FET device, formed from the third transistor structure, may be a FET device of a different dopant type than the first FET device.

According to some embodiments, forming the first transistor structure and the second transistor structure on the substrate may further comprise, e.g., prior to the formation of the first spacer and the second spacer, etching the substrate through the trench, thereby forming a substrate trench. The method may further comprise filling the substrate trench with an isolating material.

Forming a trench in the substrate between neighboring transistor structures, and filling the trench with an isolating material, may improve electrical separation/isolation of the transistor structures (and final transistor devices) through the substrate.

It will be appreciated that, according to some embodiments, the method may comprise forming a BPR in the substrate trench prior to filling the substrate trench with an isolating material. Alternatively, the method may comprise forming a BPR in the substrate trench after filling the substrate trench with an isolating material.

According to some embodiments, the method may further comprise, prior to forming the contact material layer, forming an interlayer dielectric over the transistor structures and the first spacers, and filling the first trench. The method may further comprise removing the interlayer dielectric in a region extending between the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure and the first source/drain portion of the second transistor structure across the spacers and the first trench.

It will be appreciated that the interlayer dielectric may be kept at other regions of the transistor structures and the first trench. Providing an interlayer dielectric across the transistor structures and the (first) trench, and then removing portions of the interlayer dielectric in a specific region may provide an opening in the interlayer dielectric layer. The opening may be formed to expose portions of the transistor structures, substrate and/or BPR etc. that the contact material layer is intended to be in contact with. In some implementations, the interlayer dielectric may provide increased precision in the application of the contact material.

According to some embodiments, each of the transistor structures may comprise a sacrificial gate structure extending across the channel structures. The method may further comprise, e.g., prior to removing the interlayer dielectric in the above-mentioned region, replacing the sacrificial gate with a final gate structure. As used herein, reference to “each” of a particular element (e.g., “each of the transistor structures”) may refer to two or more of the elements, and may or may not refer to every one of the elements in the device. For example, “each of the transistor structures” may refer to individual ones of a plurality of transistor structures and not necessarily every single transistor structure in the device.

It is noted that other embodiments using all possible combinations of features recited in the above described embodiments may be envisaged. Thus, the disclosed technology also relates to all possible combinations of features mentioned herein. Any embodiment described herein may be combinable with other embodiments also described herein, and the disclosed technology relates to all combinations of features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the disclosed technology, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description, with reference to the appended drawings. In the drawings like reference numerals will be used for like elements unless stated otherwise.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a semiconductor structure, in accordance with some embodiments, prior to etch-back of the contact material.

FIGS. 2a, 2b , 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 a, and 8 b illustrate various intermediate structures of a method of forming a semiconductor device, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrate cross-sections of the channel structures of different transistor structures, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

A method of forming a semiconductor device will now be described with reference to the figures. Reference will throughout be made to a first field-effect transistor (FET) device region 10, a second FET device region 20, and a third FET device region 30 of a semiconductor substrate 126. Each of the FET device regions 10, 20, 30 can be a region for supporting a FET device. In each FET device region 10, 20, 30 a transistor structure can be formed.

As may be appreciated, the substrate 126 and the transistor structure regions 10, 20, 30 may typically present a much greater lateral/horizontal extension than shown, beyond the illustrated section. It may further be noted that the relative dimensions of the shown structures, for instance the relative thickness of layers, is merely schematic and may, for the purpose of illustrational clarity, differ from a physical device structure.

FIG. 1 is a plan (top-down) view of a semiconductor structure 100 comprising three FET device regions 10, 20, 30, during formation of the FET devices. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows the semiconductor structure 100 at a stage of formation of the FET devices after deposition of the contact material layer 112 a, and prior to etch-back of the contact material layer 112 a.

The semiconductor structure 100 can comprise a first FET device region 10 in which a first transistor structure is formed, a second FET device region 20 in which a second transistor structure is formed, and a third FET device region 30 in which a third transistor structure is formed. Each of the FET device regions 10, 20, 30 can comprise a first source/drain region 40, a channel region 50, and a second source/drain region 60.

Each of the transistor structures can comprise a plurality of stacked nanosheets 102 a-c of which only the topmost nanosheet is visible in the illustration. The plurality of nanosheets 102 a-c can form a channel structure separating the first source/drain portion (formed in the first source/drain region 40) of the transistor structure from a second source/drain portion (formed in the second source/drain region 60) of the transistor structure.

The second transistor structure can be separated from the first transistor structure by a trench. A first spacer 116 can be formed in the trench at a sidewall of the first transistor structure. A second spacer 110 can be formed in the trench at a sidewall of the second transistor structure. In the bottom of the trench, a buried power rail (B PR) 108 can be formed in the substrate.

The third transistor structure can be separated from the first transistor structure by a trench which is filled with a dielectric material 104. The dielectric material 104 can form a dielectric wall between the first transistor structure and the third transistor structure.

The first FET device region 10 and the third FET device region 30 may together form a pair or a cell. The second FET device region 20 may form a pair or a cell with a further FET device region (not depicted) on the opposite side of the second FET device region 20. Between each pair/cell, a BPR may be formed in the substrate. A BPR is often not formed within a pair/cell.

A first gate structure 114 a can extend in the channel region 50, across the channel structures formed by the stacks of nanosheets 102 a, 102 c of the first and the third transistor structures. A second gate structure 114 b can extend in the channel region 50 across the channel structures formed by the stack of nanosheets 102 b of the second transistor structure.

A first contact material line 112 a can extend in the first source/drain region 40, across the first source/drain regions of the first, second and third transistor structures. The first contact material line 112 a can further extend across (and can cover) the dielectric material 104 separating the first transistor structure and the second transistor structure, and the first spacer 116, the trench and the second spacer 110 which separate the first and second transistor structures.

A second contact material line 112 b can extend in a similar manner in the second source/drain region 60, across the transistor structures and the dielectric wall 104, the first spacer 116, the trench and the second spacer 110.

A black rectangle can indicate a via 106 to the BPR 108. This can represent where a via 106 is formed connecting the contact material 112 a to the BPR 108. The via 106 can be centered on the first spacer 116.

FIGS. 2a-8b show in perspective a section of the substrate 126 through a first source/drain portion of the FET device regions, along the dashed line A of FIG. 1. The illustrated planes of section extending through the structure 100 are common to all the figures, unless indicated otherwise.

FIG. 2a shows a substrate 126, on which a first transistor structure, a second transistor structure and a third transistor structure are formed. The substrate 126 can be a semiconductor substrate, e.g., a substrate comprising at least one semiconductor layer. The substrate 126 may be a single-layered semiconductor substrate, for instance formed by a bulk substrate. The substrate 126 may however also be a multi-layered substrate, for instance formed by an epitaxially grown semiconductor layer on a bulk substrate, or a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate.

As is further shown in FIG. 2a , a first transistor structure can be formed in a first FET device region 10 a. A first source/drain portion 120 of the first transistor structure is visible in the figures.

A second transistor structure can be formed in a second FET device region 20 a. A first source/drain portion 124 of the second transistor structure is visible in FIG. 2 a.

The first and second transistor structures (represented by their respective first source/drain portions 120, 124) can be separated by a trench 122. In the trench 122, a first spacer 116 can be formed at a sidewall of the first source/drain portion 120 of the first transistor structure. A second spacer 110 can be formed in the trench at a sidewall of the first source/drain portion 124 of the second transistor structure. It will be appreciated that the first spacer 116 and/or the second spacer 120 may extend in a direction along the trench and the first and second transistor structures, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

For example, the material of the first and second spacer 116, 120 may be conformally deposited over the first transistor structure and the second transistor structure, before being anisotropically (top-down) etched to form the first spacer 116 and second spacer 120. The spacer material may for example be silicon nitride (SiN), silicon carbon oxide (SiCO), or silicon carbonitride (SiCN). In some implementations, the spacer material can be conformally deposited by for example atomic layer deposition (ALD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

A third transistor structure can be formed in a third FET device region 30 a. A first source/drain portion 118 of the third transistor structure is visible in FIG. 2a . The third transistor structure can be separated from the first transistor structure by a trench which has a smaller width than the (first) trench 122 separating the first transistor structure and the second transistor structure. The trench between the first and third transistor structures can be filled with a dielectric material 104, which protrudes above a top surface of the transistor structures. The dielectric material 104 may for example be SiN, SiCO, or SiCN.

The source/drain portions 118, 120, 124, may form source/drain terminals of the final FET devices. In an example, the first source/drain region 118 of the third transistor structure can be formed by an n-doped selective epitaxial silicon or silicon carbon process, using for instance phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), or antimony (Sb) as dopants, whereas the first source/drain regions 120, 124 of the first and the second transistor structures can be formed by a p-doped selective epitaxial silicon or silicon germanium process. In the latter example, boron (B) or gallium (Ga) may be used as dopants. Advantageously, the dielectric material 104 may act as a wall that facilitates separation between the negative metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) and the positive metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) devices formed in this process.

Prior to the formation of the first spacer 116, the second spacer 110 and the dielectric material 104, the substrate 126 may be etched through the trenches separating the respective transistor structures. Substrate trenches may thus be formed in the substrate 126. As is shown in FIG. 2a , a buried power rail (BPR) 108 may be formed in the substrate trench between the first transistor structure and the second transistor structure. As further shown in FIG. 2a , the trenches formed in the underlying thickness portion of the substrate 126 (the substrate trenches) may be filled with an isolating material 128, thereby separating the FET device regions 10 a, 20 a, 30 a of the substrate 126 on which the FET devices using shallow trench isolation (STI).

The semiconductor structure shown in FIG. 2a may be a starting position of forming a forksheet FET device, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 2b shows a starting position of forming a nanosheet FET device, in accordance with other embodiments.

FIG. 2b also shows a substrate 126, on which a first transistor structure, a second transistor structure and a third transistor structure are formed. As is shown in FIG. 2b , the first transistor structure formed in the first FET device region 10 b, the second transistor structure formed in the second FET device region 20 b, and the trench between them may be similar or equivalent to the corresponding features in FIG. 2 a.

In FIG. 2b , the third transistor structure formed in the third FET device region 30 b, can be separated from the first transistor structure by a second trench 132. In the second trench 132, a third spacer 130 can be formed at a sidewall of the first source/drain portion 118 of the third transistor structure. A fourth spacer 134 can be formed in the second trench 132 at a sidewall of the first source/drain portion 120 of the first transistor structure. It will, once again, be appreciated that the third spacer 130 and/or the fourth spacer 134 may extend in a direction along the trench and the first and third transistor structures.

Further, prior to the formation of the third and fourth spacers 130,134, a second substrate trench can be formed in the substrate between the first and the third transistor structures, the second substrate trench can be filled with an isolating material 128.

In the following, the method will be described with reference to figures showing the structure of FIG. 2a . However, the same or similar method may be applied to structures like the one described with reference to FIG. 2b . Specifically, in some embodiments comprising structures like in FIG. 2b , any step described with relating to the (first) trench 122, the first spacer 116 or the second spacer 110, may respectively be applied to the second trench 132, the third spacer 130 and the fourth spacer 134.

In FIG. 3, a mask layer 136 can be applied to (e.g., formed over) the semiconductor structure. The mask layer 136 can comprise an opening 138 which exposes (at least) a portion of the first source/drain portion 120 of the first transistor structure. The opening 138 further can expose the first spacer 116, and a portion of the trench. The mask layer 136 can cover the second spacer 110.

In FIG. 4, the first spacer 116 can be partially etched back through the opening 138 of the mask layer 136. A portion of the sidewall of the first source/drain region 120 of the first transistor structure, which faces the trench, can thereby be exposed.

In FIG. 5, the mask layer 136 can be removed. An interlayer dielectric 140 can be formed over the semiconductor structure and filling the trench. The interlayer dielectric 140 may be formed by the same material as the isolating material 128 forming the STI in some instances. It will be appreciated that the application of the interlayer dielectric 140 may be optional.

In FIG. 6, the interlayer dielectric can be removed from a region of the semiconductor structure which includes the present cross-section. In some instances, at least portions of the first source/drain portion 118, 120, 124, the dielectric material/wall 104, the etched back first spacer 116 and the second spacer 110 can be exposed. Further, a portion of the insulating material 128 can be etched, thereby exposing the BPR 108 in the bottom of the trench 122.

In FIG. 7, a contact material layer 112 can be deposited across the first source/drain region of the transistor structures. The contact material layer 112 may be deposited using for example atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD) or plating. Possible metals in contact metallization include for example titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni), nickel-platinum (NiPt), tungsten (W), cobalt (Co), ruthenium (Ru), molybdenum (Mo), titanium nitride (TiN), and tungsten nitride (WN).

FIG. 7 may be similar or equivalent to a cross-section taken along the dashed line A in FIG. 1. In some instances, the method step illustrated in FIG. 7 may be similar or equivalent to the method step illustrated in FIG. 1. The contact material layer 112 may in some instances be similar or equivalent to the contact material line 112 a which extends along the first source/drain region 40 of the FET device regions 10, 20, 30 of FIG. 1.

In some implementations, the contact material layer 112 can be in contact with the BPR 108 and the first source/drain portion 118 of the first transistor structure.

In FIG. 8a , the contact material layer 112 can be etched back below a top surface of the second spacer 110 and the dielectric material/wall 104. In various implementations, the contact material layer can be divided into three contacts 144 a-c. The first contact 144 a can contact the BPR 108 and the first source/drain portion 120 of the first transistor structure. In some instances, the etched-back first spacer 116 may increase the isolation between the BPR 108 and the first source/drain portion 120 of the first transistor structure, such that any connection is made through the first contact 144 a.

The second contact 144 b can be separated from the first contact 144 a by the second spacer 110. The second contact 144 b can be in connection with the first source/drain portion 124 of the second transistor structure. The third contact 144 c can be separated from the first contact 144 a by the dielectric material/wall 104. The third contact can be in connection with the first source/drain portion 118 of the third transistor structure.

FIG. 8b shows a semiconductor structure allowing for formation of nanosheet FET devices similar to that of FIG. 2b . FIG. 8b shows the semiconductor structure after etch-back of the contact material layer. In some instances, FIG. 8b shows a situation similar or equivalent to that of FIG. 8a , except that the third transistor structure is separated from the first transistor structure by a second trench, like the second trench 132 of FIG. 2b . In the second trench, as is shown in FIG. 8b , the third spacer 130 can be etched back so that the third contact 144 d wraps at least partly around the top and a portion of the sidewall which faces the trench of the first source/drain portion 118 of the third transistor structure. The third contact 144 d can be separated from the first contact 144 a by the fourth spacer 134.

With reference to FIGS. 9a and 9b , a difference between a forksheet transistor structure and a nanosheet transistor structure will be described.

FIG. 9a shows a cross-section through a channel region of a forksheet transistor structure. For example, the illustration in FIG. 9a may correspond to a cross-section taken through the channel region 50 of FIG. 1. For illustrative purposes, only the three pluralities of stacked nanosheets 102 a-c, the dielectric material 104 and the substrate 126 are shown.

FIG. 9b shows a cross-section through a channel region of a nanosheet transistor structure, such as the nanosheet transistor structures illustrated in FIGS. 2b and 8b . For illustrative purposes, only the three pluralities of stacked nanosheets 102 a, 102 b, 102 d and the substrate 126 are shown.

In both FIGS. 9a and 9b , the plurality of horizontally stacked nanosheets 102 a in the first FET device region 10 a-b can be separated from the plurality of horizontally stacked nanosheets 102 b in the second FET device region 20 a-b by a trench.

In FIG. 9a , the dielectric material 104 can be formed between the plurality of horizontally stacked nanosheets 102 a in the first FET device region 10 a and the plurality of horizontally stacked nanosheets 102 c in the third FET device region 30 a. The two stacks of nanosheets 102 a, 102 c and the dielectric material 104 can form a forklike structure.

The dielectric material 104 may provide increased electrical isolation between the nanosheets 102 a of the first transistor structure and the nanosheets 120 c of the third transistor structure. In various implementations, the first FET device formed in the first FET device region 10 a and the third FET device formed in the third FET device region 30 c may be formed more closely together (e.g., with a shorter distance/pitch between them) on the substrate 126.

A gate structure may be formed partially wrapping around the nanosheets 102 a of the first transistor structure e.g., since there is a trench separating the nanosheets 102 a from the nanosheets 102 b of the second transistor structure.

As in FIG. 9a , in FIG. 9b , the stack of nanosheets 102 a in the first FET device region 10 b can be separated from the stack of nanosheets 102 b formed in the second FET device region 20 b. Further, the stack of nanosheets 102 d in the third FET device region 30 b can be separated from the stack of nanosheets 102 a in the first FET device region 10 b. In FIG. 9b , the distance between the first FET device region 10 b and the third FET device region 30 b can be larger than the distance between the corresponding regions in FIG. 9a , e.g., in order to improve electrical separation between the devices formed in the regions without the use of the dielectric material/wall 104. In some instances, as both sides of the nanosheets are free (e.g., not connected to a dielectric material/wall) a gate may be formed wrapping fully around the nanosheets 102 a. A gate wrapping fully around channel structure (e.g., being formed around and between the nanosheets) may improve control of the horizontally oriented flow of charge carriers between the source and drain portions within the final FET device.

While methods and processes may be depicted in the drawings and/or described in a particular order, it is to be recognized that the steps need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated steps be performed, to achieve desirable results. Further, other steps that are not depicted may be incorporated in the example methods and processes that are schematically illustrated. For example, one or more additional steps may be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the illustrated steps. Additionally, the steps may be rearranged or reordered in other embodiments.

In the above the inventive concept has mainly been described with reference to a limited number of examples. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other examples than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the inventive concept, as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of forming a semiconductor device comprising a first field-effect transistor (FET) device and a second FET device, the method comprising: forming, on a semiconductor substrate, a first transistor structure and a second transistor structure separated by a trench, wherein each of the first and the second transistor structures comprises a plurality of stacked nano sheets forming a channel structure, and a source portion and a drain portion horizontally separated by the channel structure, and wherein a first spacer is formed in the trench at a sidewall of the first transistor structure, and a second spacer is formed in the trench at a sidewall of the second transistor structure, the first and second spacers both protruding above a top surface of the transistor structures; applying a mask layer including an opening exposing the first spacer at a first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure and covering the second spacer; at least partially etching the exposed first spacer through the opening, exposing at least parts of a sidewall of the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure; removing the mask layer; depositing a contact material over the transistor structures and the first and second spacers, thereby filling the trench and contacting the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure; and etching back the contact material below a top surface of the second spacer.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first FET device and the second FET device are of the same dopant type.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein depositing a contact material further comprises depositing the contact material in a continuous line extending in a direction from the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure towards a first source/drain portion of the second transistor structure, across the transistor structures, the first trench, and the first and second spacers.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the first transistor structure and the second transistor structure on the semiconductor substrate comprises: prior to the formation of the first spacer and the second spacer: etching the semiconductor substrate through the trench, thereby forming a substrate trench, and forming a buried power rail (BPR), in the substrate trench; and prior to depositing the contact material, exposing the BPR in the bottom of the trench.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming, on the semiconductor substrate a third transistor structure separated from the first transistor structure by a second trench; wherein the third transistor structure comprises a plurality of stacked nanosheets forming a channel structure, and a source portion and a drain portion horizontally separated by the channel structure; wherein a third spacer is formed in the second trench at a sidewall of the third transistor structure, and a fourth spacer is formed in the second trench at a sidewall of the first transistor structure, the third and fourth spacers both protruding above a top surface of the transistor structures; and wherein the method further comprises etching back the contact material below a top surface of the fourth spacer.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming, on the semiconductor substrate, a third transistor structure separated from the first transistor structure by a second trench having a smaller width than the first trench, wherein the third transistor structure comprises a plurality of stacked nanosheets forming a channel structure, and a source portion and a drain portion horizontally separated by the channel structure; depositing a dielectric material in the second trench, the dielectric material protruding above a top surface of the transistor structures; and etching back the contact material below a top surface of the dielectric material.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein a third FET device, formed from the third transistor structure, is a FET device of a different dopant type than the first FET device.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein a third FET device, formed from the third transistor structure, is a FET device of a different dopant type than the first FET device.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the first transistor structure and the second transistor structure on the semiconductor substrate comprises, prior to the formation of the first spacer and the second spacer: etching the semiconductor substrate through the trench, thereby forming a substrate trench; and filling the substrate trench with an isolating material.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to forming the contact material: forming an interlayer dielectric over the transistor structures, the first and second spacers, and filling the trench; removing the interlayer dielectric in a region extending between the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure and the first source/drain portion of the second transistor structure across the spacers and the first trench.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the transistor structures comprises a sacrificial gate structure extending across the channel structure, and wherein the method comprises, prior to removing the interlayer dielectric in the region, replacing the sacrificial gate with a final gate structure.
 12. The method of claim 4, wherein forming the first transistor structure and the second transistor structure on the semiconductor substrate comprises, prior to the formation of the first spacer and the second spacer: etching the semiconductor substrate through the trench, thereby forming a substrate trench; and filling the substrate trench with an isolating material.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, prior to forming the contact material: forming an interlayer dielectric over the transistor structures, the first and second spacers, and filling the trench, wherein the interlayer dielectric is formed by the same material as the isolating material; and removing a portion of the interlayer dielectric to expose the BPR.
 14. The method of claim 5, wherein prior to the formation of the third spacer and the fourth spacer: etching the substrate through the second trench, thereby forming a second substrate trench; and filling the second substrate trench with an isolating material.
 15. The method of claim 5, wherein depositing the contact material comprises depositing the contact material in a continuous line across the first, second, and third transistor structures, and etching the contact material below the top surface of the second and fourth spacers divides the contact material into three contacts, the first contact contacting the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure, the second contact contacting a first source/drain portion of the second transistor structure, and the third contact contacting a first source/drain portion of the third transistor structure.
 16. The method of claim 6, wherein depositing the contact material comprises depositing the contact material in a continuous line across the first, second, and third transistor structures, and etching the contact material below the top surface of the second spacer and dielectric material divides the contact material into three contacts, the first contact contacting the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure, the second contact contacting a first source/drain portion of the second transistor structure, and the third contact contacting a first source/drain portion of the third transistor structure.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact material wraps at least partly around at least two surfaces of the first source/drain portion of the first transistor structure.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the contact material forms a wrap-around contact. 